Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
France 24
France 24
Politics
Adam HANCOCK

Discipline and togetherness: Japan's strategy for football greatness

Japan Football World Cup Fifa France Netherlands
Cover image: FOCUS © FRANCE 24

On Sunday, Japan sealed a 2-2 draw against the higher-ranked Netherlands in their 2026 World Cup opener. Since qualifying for its first World Cup in 1998, Japan has reached every edition of the tournament and now sits 18th in the FIFA rankings. FRANCE 24's Adam Hancock, Alexis Bregere and Ayana Nishikawa travelled across Japan to uncover the secrets behind the remarkable rise of Japanese football.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
I spotted fuzzy white mold on my houseplant soil— here's how I fixed it with a cupboard staple
Stop white mold on houseplants with this simple kitchen spice trick,
Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Do you talk in your sleep? What somniloquy reveals about your brain, sleep stages, dreams and when it may signal a serious sleep disorder
Sleep talking somniloquy explained: Ever spoken in your sleep? It's common, affecting many adults and children, and can happen during different sleep stages. Research reveals sleep talk often involves negative words and questions, suggesting brain activity related to memory and emotions.
The Economic Times
The Economic Times
Zendaya And Tom Holland Are Couple's Goals On Spider-Man: Brand New Day Carpet (And Yes She's Still Sporting That Ring)
I want them to be together forever.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
Psychology says people who prefer dining alone aren't rude: They may simply be protecting their peace, independence and relationship with themselves
Psychology suggests that everyday habits often reflect deeper emotional needs. Choosing to eat alone is rarely an act of social rejection; more often, it is a way of reconnecting with oneself. For many people, those few uninterrupted minutes become one of the calmest and most peaceful moments of their day.
The Economic Times
The Economic Times
Don Cheadle Reveals Grim Idea He “Stole” From George Clooney: “It Happens To Everybody”
“He is so cool,” a netizen said about Don Cheadle.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Maryland woman grabs Jersey Mikes sub, one distracted bite later, she was getting a CT scan for an alleged foreign object stuck in her throat
“Be careful where you eat.”
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play